When A Kid Like Me Fights Cancer - A Diverse Children's Book Review

When A Kid Like Me Fights Cancer was written by Catherine Stier and illustrated by Angel Chang. It was published on September 1, 2019 by Albery Whitman and Company. A later edition was released in 2021.

When A Kid Like Me Fights Cancer is about a young child who got diagnosed with cancer. It follows a similar writing pattern of, “I have learned…” throughout the book, explaining what this young child is realizing about cancer. Initially not knowing what the word “cancer” means, the child begins to understand that this is something he has to fight alone.

Overall, I think this book is a beautiful representation of how cancer does not change who the young boy is. It is a part of him; something he has to fight, but not something that controls him or changes him fundamentally. I loved the representation of feeding tubes, child life specialists, and various races in this book. It is a developmentally appropriate way to explain cancer to first graders and second graders. I especially loved that it was based on a true story from the Co-Founder of the National Pediatric Cancer Society, Melissa Helms. This book shows the true dedication of suffering parents, turning pain into purpose, the beauty of community, and the resilience of a small child.